MINI Cooper Complaints

4,588 consumer complaints on file.

#10852295March 29, 2016
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WAS MOVED FORWARD TO ALLOW ENTRY TO THE REAR SEAT. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED BY NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS ON THE INTERNET AND BMW HAS RECALLED CARS OLDER AND NEWER THAN MY CAR AND CONVERTIBLES FROM THE SAME YEAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10852027March 28, 2016
ENGINE
I OWN A 2008 MINI COOPER S AND IT HAS 62000 MILES ON IT. AS MANY OTHER MINI OWNERS, I HAVE " RATTLE NOISE" ISSUE WHEN COLD START AND POPPED UP "ENGINE OIL PRESSURE TOO LOW" WARNING YESTERDAY WHEN DROVE HOME ON CITY STREET. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER/GUIDE CHANGED ONCE BEFORE AT 18,942 BY A MINI DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10851813March 27, 2016
AIR BAGS, SEATS
PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND CANNOT BE FIXED. PAASENGER SEAT WEIGHT WIRING HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS CANNOT BE PURCHASED (6 MONTH BACKLIST). THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10851815March 27, 2016
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 MINI COOPER FROM AUTOHAUS WEST/MINI OF ST LOUIS. THE MINI COOPER WAS DESIGNED, MANUFACTURED, ASSEMBLED, DISTRIBUTED AND SOLD BY BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, BMW (U.S.) HOLDING CORP., AND BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGELLSCHAFT. I EXPERIENCED A PROGRESSIVE FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN, TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND RELATED TENSIONER RAIL, GUIDE RAIL AND SUPPORT RAIL. THE TIMING CHAIN HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPRESENTED TO HAVE A USEFUL LIFE EQUAL TO THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THE TIMING CHAIN IS LOCATED WITHIN THE ENGINE, CONSISTS OF A METAL CHAIN, AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO ADJUSTMENT OR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. I EXPERIENCED A PROGRESSIVE FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN AS FOLLOWS: (A) DEATH RATTLE OR DIESEL NOISE FROM ENGINE UPON START UP & AT LOW SPEEDS, (B) ROUGH IDLING AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING, (C) POWER LOSS & ENGINE STALLS ON HIGHWAY EXIT RAMPS, (D) POWER LOSS & ENGINE STALLS ON HIGHWAY, & (E) CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. THE MINI COOPER WAS SERVICED BY AUTOHAUS WEST ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH REPAIRS//REPLACEMENT OF SPARK PLUGS, BATTERY, IGNITER COILS, THERMOSTAT COVER AND OTHER ITEMS TOTALING OVER $3,000. AUTOHAUS WEST FAILED TO IDENTIFY THE TIMING CHANGE AS A PROBLEM. AUTOHAUS WEST, BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC, BMW (U.S.) HOLDING CORP., AND BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGELLSCHAFT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER DEFECT SINCE 2007 AND HAVE FAILED TO WARN CONSUMERS, ISSUE A RECALL OR PROVIDE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE.THE LOSS OF POWER & ENGINE STALLS ARE SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARDS & WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO ACCIDENTS, INJURIES & EVEN DEATH. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN M110207 WAS ISSUED IN JANUARY, 2008. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT WIDELY KNOWN TO CONSUMERS AND FAILS TO GIVE CONSUMERS ADEQUATE WARNING. BMW SETTLED CLASS ACTION RE N14 ENGINE USED IN MINI COOPER S. HOWEVER, IT HAS IGNORED SAME PROBLEM WITH N12 ENGINE USED IN MINI COOPER. SAME ISSUES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10851768March 26, 2016
AIR BAGS
THE SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY EVEN IF THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT IS OCCUPIED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT SOMETIMES STAYS ON, WHILE SOMETIMES GOES AWAY. MINI HAS RECALLED SEVERAL CARS FOR SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT FAULT BUT MY CAR ISN'T ON THE LIST. THE LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND ALSO WHILE RUNNING. I'M UNABLE TO USE THE PASSENGER SEAT FOR SAFETY CONCERN. THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES AWAY ON ITS OWN AS WELL BUT TURNS BACK ON WITHIN A FEW MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10851522March 25, 2016
ENGINE
OIL FEED LINE LEAKING ON TURBO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10851549March 25, 2016
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY HIGHWAY WHEN THE SMOKE STARTED POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CAR STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING, OR SIGNAL LIGHTS APPEARING ON THE CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. I STOOD BACK, WATER FOR THE SMOKE TO CLEAR, AND TRIED TO RESTART BUT THE ENGINE WAS DEAD. I CALLED MY TOWING SERVICE AND HAD IT DELIVERED TO MY SERVICE GARAGE, MINI OF MAIN LINE, 130 MONTGOMERY AVENUE, BALA CYNWYD, PA. NO WARNING LIGHT EVER APPEARED, AND I WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE CAR. THE GARAGE REPAIR ESTIMATE STATES THAT THE "WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT" FAILED. MY MINI COOPER MODEL IS NOT LISTED UNDER RECALL #12V008000, BUT THE CONSEQUENCE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THAT DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE: THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FAILED CAUSING THE ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BOARD TO MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10851347March 24, 2016
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE ELECTRONIC LEARNING MODULE AND THE PYRAMID WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. THE GEAR LEVER, TRANSMISSION, BRAKE PEDAL, MOTOR, CLUTCH, FRONT AND REAR AXLES, AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR WERE ALL REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,457.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10851275March 23, 2016
AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY, EVEN WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER IS SEATED THERE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND SEE THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR EARLIER MODEL COOPER AND COOPER S MODELS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS THAT ARE LISTED IN THAT RECALL, AND ACCORDING TO THIS SITE SO HAVE 2009 COOPER OWNERS. THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED ACCORDINGLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10850550March 19, 2016
STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AND IT STAYS ON WHEN THE ENGINE IS OFF. I WAS ON A CITY STREET WHEN IT HAPPENED. I HAVE TO DISCONNECT BATTERY CABLE SO IT DOESN'T DRAIN THE BATTERY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10850449March 18, 2016
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10850254March 17, 2016
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
PASSENGERS AIR BAG APPEARS OFF WHEN SOMEONE ARE SEAT. THIS EVOLVE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IN CASE OF ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10849946March 16, 2016
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MINI COOPER S. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CONTUSIONS TO THE FACE AND LOST A TOOTH. THE OCCUPANTS OF THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 213,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10850058March 16, 2016
ENGINE
AT 89,044 MILES MY 2009 MINI COOPER, PURCHASED FROM VISTA MINI SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC COOLANT LOSS DUE TO A CRACKED THERMOSTAT HOUSING, AND AS A DIRECT RESULT THE VEHICLE SEVERELY OVERHEATED IRREPARABLY DAMAGING THE ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE TURNPIKE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE CAME ON, AND BEFORE I COULD SAFELY PULL THE VEHICLE OVER THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY SLOWED TO A VERITABLE CRAWL (ALLOWING ME JUST ENOUGH TIME TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD). THE VEHICLE WAS ULTIMATELY TOWED TO A MINI DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACED. WHICH WOULD BE A RATHER COSTLY REPAIR, REQUIRING AN OUTLAY OF FUNDS FAR GREATER THAN THE VEHICLE'S VALUE. THEREBY SUBSTANTIALLY DECREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF COMPLETING THE REQUIRED REPAIRS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BELIEVING IT TO BE A QUALITY PRODUCT, AND ONE CAPABLE OF BEING DRIVEN FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. HOWEVER, THE EXPERIENCE I SUFFERED SEVERELY SHOOK MY CONFIDENCE IN THE PRODUCT, SO I BEGAN TO DO MY OWN RESEARCH ON THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. IT TURNS OUT THAT NOT ONLY MINI ENGINES, BUT ALSO THOSE MANUFACTURED BY BMW, SHARE A SIMILAR DEFECT, IN THAT THEY BOTH ARE PRONE TO THE THERMOSTAT HOUSINGS CRACKING AND CAUSING RAPID COOLANT LOSS. COUPLE THAT WITH THE WELL DOCUMENTED CRITICISM OF THE LOCATION OF THE COOLANT SENSOR IN THE ENGINE, AND YOU HAVE CREATED THE PERFECT NUCLEUS FOR GENERATING A CATACLYSMIC MELTDOWN OF THE ENGINE THAT LIES SECRETLY HIBERNATING WITHIN THE PRODUCT LINE. THEREFORE, I DO NOT FEEL THAT IT IS FAIR FOR ME TO HAVE TO BEAR THE BURDENSOME COST OF REPAIR FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS ENDEMIC TO THE PRODUCT LINE AS A WHOLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10850122March 16, 2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DROVE CAR ABOUT 4 MILES. PARKED AT SHOPPING CENTER, TURNED OFF CAR AND LOCKED IT. RETURNED 15 MINS LATER TO FIND FLAMES IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT!
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10849706March 15, 2016
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10849755March 15, 2016
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
LOUD RATTLING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP CAR HAS TURNED OFF, SOMETIMES IT CRANKS FOR A BIT TO START UP. ALSO WHILE DRIVING LOSSES POWER AND CAR DECELERATES SLOWS DOWN AND ALSO PULLS LIKE IF WAS OUT OF GAS. WHITE SMOKE WHEN YOU PRESS ON GAS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10849568March 14, 2016
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MINI COOPER S. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V660000 (STEERING) AND THE DEALER SCHEDULED A REPAIR APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER LATER CANCELED THE APPOINTMENT, STATING THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR REMEDY FOR MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A DATE THAT THE PART WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ...UPDATED 04/12/16 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10849602March 14, 2016
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF A STATE HIGHWAY WHILE GOING AT CRUISING SPEED OF 35MPH ON THE RIGHT MOST LATE, AND WITH ENGINE DEAD POWER STEERING BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE. THE CAR WAS LITERALLY DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, WE HAD KIDS ON BOARD AND FOR A SMALL CAR, WE WERE REALLY THAT LUCKY PASSING CARS WERE ABLE TO SPOT US AND AVOID HITTING US. WHEN WE TOOK TOWED IT TO THE SHOP, THE ISSUE WAS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD SNAPPED AND ALSO CRACKED THE ENGINE TOP COVER ON THE LEFT SIDE. ON SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS THE "TIMING CHAIN, TENSIONER ISSUES" THAT BMW/MINI IS ALREADY AWARE OF HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT YET DONE A RECALL. THERE WAS ALMOST NO WAY OF TELLING THERE WAS THIS PROBLEM BREWING WITH THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH NOW IN RETROSPECT THERE WERE A FEW TELL-TALE SIGNS, WHEN IT WAS COLD, WE HAD HEARD A RATTLE SOUND, WHICH WENT AWAY IMMEDIATELY. ALSO THE SAME DAY THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED WHEN STANDING AT A SIGNAL, BUT STARTED UP AGAIN. NOW WE REALIZE THAT THESE SIGNS WERE RELATED TO THE PROBLEM THAT OTHER USERS HAD COMPLAINED TOO BEFORE THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10846337March 13, 2016
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVERS FOOT WELL GETS SO HOT THAT YOU CAN NOT TOUCH THE PLASTIC BY THE ACCELERATOR AND YOUR FOOT STARTS COOKING AFTER 20 MINUTES OR SO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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